Autophagy is a biochemical process in which the damaged and redundant cellular components are destroyed and recycled. This function is absolutely necessary in the body in order to clean up cellular debris so that cell can function properly. This is also a survival and adaptation mechanism when the body is suffering from physiological stress.

The Research on Autophagy Received a Noble Prize in 2016

Autophagy is less known scientific terminology. This earned popularity since 2016, when Japanese scientist Yoshinori Oshuni received a noble prize for his research on autophagy. On one hand the drug companies and research institutes started to research on producing a drug that can catalyze autophagy; on the other hand the fitness experts and dieticians started to suggest ways on how to apply fasting, high intensity exercises and low carb diet in accelerating autophagy.

What is the Process of Autophagy?

Let’s elaborate! At the cellular level this is called atopic ozone 0:58. Now compare it with a cleaning stuff on the streets, whose job is to accumulate all the filth on the streets caused by the citizens, then take those in the garbage van and throw in the dustbin.

Atopic ozone 0:58’s work is like that. It goes around the cell, picks up debris, damaged cell parts and then it combines with something called the lysosome and creates new cell components, by recycling the old damaged stuffs; turning them into energy.

Does Fasting Activate Autophagy?

Now, let’s see what happens when you fast? This could be identified as an unusual circumstance for the body, as it is unable to receive any energy from external resources. This is one of the situations which activates the process of autophagy. Autophagy keeps the body functioning at that time, by breaking cellular debris and using its internal resources in order to carry out normal processes in the body and produce energy.

Benefits of Autophegy!

1. Decrease in inflammation.

This is super powerful because inflammation or chronic inflammation is really the root cause of diseases. If we look at cancer, heart disease and all these different chronic conditions, we’ll see they started with a chronic inflammatory problem in the body. Therefore, decreasing inflammation is going to be really effective for avoiding these diseases in your future.

2. Boosts immunity system.

Dr. Longo did some research on it, which showed that a four-day water fast can reset your immune system, completely. This was a very powerful discovery as many people today suffer from autoimmune conditions.

3. Improves Anti-aging effect in your body

It support your skin and keep your skin healthy, reducing wrinkles; especially after weight loss. Activating autophagy in your body is going to be very helpful for reducing that loose, saggy skin, after you shed a lot of pounds.

4. Improves brain function

Activating autophagy is also going to improve your brain functions. Some researches in John Hopkins University show us that it can act as a protective mechanism for the brain to protect you from neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

5. Destroys pathogens

Autophagy decreases pathogens and bacteria in the body, in order to keep you healthy.

6. Increased longevity

Overall, this could result in a longer life! That means, if your inflammation reduces, cancer and heart diseases are prevented, you could surely get a longer life. Right!

7. Autophagy and cancer

Scientist Thomas Seyfried who has done tons of incredible research on cancer and how to avoid cancer naturally- tells us that as little as a seven-day water fast, once a year, is sufficient to actually cleanse our body and clearing out the pre-cancerous cells. He added that doing multiple four-day water fast is just as sufficient.

Boosting Autophagy!!  Autophagy Becomes Activated in 13-18 Hours of Fasting

Generally, it takes more than 18 hours of fasting but the research has shown us that as little as a 13 hour fast can activate autophagy in the body. Therefore it can be said that the autophagy could be activated from the 13^th to 18^th hour of the fast; and help cleaning up those cellular debris and keep your cells healthy.